Campbell River property owners can expect to see tax notices arrive in the mail this week.
They’ll outline changes made due to COVID-19, including new payment options and a form for pre-authorized withdrawals for 2021 property taxes.
“For everyone’s safety, we’re trying to limit in-person visits to City Hall and encourage property owners to claim the homeowner grant and pay online if possible,” says financial planning officer Dennis Brodie. “If you do pay at City Hall, please respect the new protective measures in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19.”
Property tax payment changes for 2020:
- No cash payments.
- Credit cards accepted (credit card fees apply) both in-person and online as of June 15th.
- New drive-through option – drop off paperwork and cheques for payment in the City Hall parking lot between 10:00am and 2:00pm on June 18th, 19th, 25th, 26th, 30th and July 2nd.
- The due date for payment is July 2nd, with a grace period in effect until September 30th. After September 30th, a 10 per cent penalty will be applied to any outstanding taxes or homeowner grants.
Other payment options:
- Mail a cheque. (Post-dated cheques accepted. Due by September 30th to avoid penalty.)
- Pay by debit card in person at City Hall. (Ensure transaction limits cover the amount due.)
- After hours, deposit cheques in the dropbox outside the front doors at City Hall.
“The balance owing on property tax notices depends on the value of the property, and on how much the value of the property changed over the last year,” Brodie adds. “As property owners are preparing to make their payments, we remind them to check their notices and water and sewer charges to ensure active or deactivated secondary suites are correctly noted in the property tax calculation.”
City tax notices also include amounts set by and collected for the School District, Strathcona Regional District, Regional Hospital District, Regional Solid Waste, Regional Library, BC Assessment Authority and the Municipal Finance Authority.
If you have not received your tax notice by June 10th, get in touch with Campbell River’s Finance Department by calling (250) 286-5715.
Important information about the Home Owner Grant:
- If eligible, the provincial grant must be applied for each year.
- Residential property owners can claim the Home Owner Grant without paying property taxes.
- Banks and financial institutions cannot claim the grant on behalf of property owners.
- Apply online here, click on Payments under Online Options then launch the Home Owner Grant application from the link (access code on tax notice beside folio number).
- Apply in person at City Hall between 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, except July 1st.
